Improvement in child s table-tray



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLOTTE GILLARD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHILDS TABLE-TRAY.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,807, dated October8,1878; application filed July 30, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrs. CHARLOTTE GIL- LARD, of the city and -county ofSan Francisco, in the State of California, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in a Childs Table-Tray, which invention is fully setforth and shown in the following specification and accompanying drawing.

In the said drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my invention.Fig. 2 is a detail view in section.

This invention relates to childrens trays provided with brackets andclampingcatches,

whereby they may be secured to a table or other flat article.

The nature of the invention consists chiefly in the combination, with aprotecting socket or casing formed on the bracket, of a helical springinclosed thereby and a sliding rod acted on. by the pressure of thatspring, and extending below the socket, where it is provided with aknob, so as to be conveniently grasped for attaching and detaching thetray.

In the accompanying drawing the tray is shown with the bars or bracketsB B secured at one side in such manner that the ends of the bracketsextend beneath the bottom of the tray. Suitable sockets or bearings b bare provided on the ends of the brackets for the spring-catches a a,which are composed of a rod or pin sliding within the socket and held upby a strong spiral spring, 0, surrounding the pin and bearing against ashoulder, (1.

Rod a is expanded at the upper end, ta so as to be suitable for a clamp,and is provided below socket I) with a knob, to, whereby it can easilybe grasped and drawn downward when the tray is to be attached to a tableor detached therefrom.

When the tray A is placed on the edge of the table the catches are drawndown to allow the edge to be received between the brackets and thebottom of the tray, and the catches when released are pressed up by thesprings, and the tray is securely clamped to the table.

The space between the ends of the brackets and the bottom of the tray issufficient to receive the leaf or edge of any table.

The advantages of my device lie principally in its simplicity and itsgreat durability. It can also be attached to or removed from a tablevery easily, and will be held rigidly when placed in position.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ brackets and pressuredevices to clamp a childs tray to a table; and I particularly disclaimthe combination of a clamping-screw and fixed plate or bracket, as shownin the patent of Woods and Leseman, November 28, 1871, N 0. 121,444, andthe employment of unprotected pressure-springs, such as are shown in thepatent of Vt. M. Conger, February 6, 1872, No. 123,332; but

What I claim as new is The combination, with tray A and bracket B,having cylindrical socket or casing 1) formed thereon, of sliding rod a,expanded at the top to form catch a working through the perforated lowerend of said socket, and provided with a knob, to, at its lower end, andhelical spring 0, bearing against shoulder at of said sliding catch, andinclosed in said socket or casing, so as to be protected thereby.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 27th day of June, 1877.

Mes. CHARLOTTE GIL'LABD. [L. s.]

IVitnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, WILLIAM HARNEY.

